FOOTNOTES:

Up you go feathery toy,Up in the air so lightly—Children gaze after you,Watching your movements brightly.Tap, tap, battledores,Up once more you spring,Just like little dicky-birds,Sporting on the wing.

Up you go feathery toy,

Up in the air so lightly—

Children gaze after you,

Watching your movements brightly.

Tap, tap, battledores,

Up once more you spring,

Just like little dicky-birds,

Sporting on the wing.

or (this is the real thing)

Shuttlecock, shuttlecock, if you don’t spin,I’ll break your bones and bury your skin.

Shuttlecock, shuttlecock, if you don’t spin,

I’ll break your bones and bury your skin.

Appletree, peartree, plumtree pie,How many children before I die?One, two, three etc.

Appletree, peartree, plumtree pie,

How many children before I die?

One, two, three etc.

Three little children sitting on the sand,All, all a-lonely (repeat both lines)Down in the green wood shady—There came an old woman, said Come on with me,All, all a-lonely (repeat both lines)Down in the green wood shady—She stuck her pen-knife through their heart,All, all a-lonely (repeat both lines)Down in the green wood shady.

Three little children sitting on the sand,

All, all a-lonely (repeat both lines)

Down in the green wood shady—

There came an old woman, said Come on with me,

All, all a-lonely (repeat both lines)

Down in the green wood shady—

She stuck her pen-knife through their heart,

All, all a-lonely (repeat both lines)

Down in the green wood shady.

Goodbye (May), while you’re away,Send a letter, love,Say you’re better, love,Don’t forget your dear old (Nell)

Goodbye (May), while you’re away,

Send a letter, love,

Say you’re better, love,

Don’t forget your dear old (Nell)

(Call another girl in)

I know a girl, sly and deceitful,Every little tittle tat she goes and tells her people.Long nose, ugly face, ought to be put under a glass case,If you want to know her name,Her name is (Evie Allen).O (Evie Allen), get away from me,I don’t want to speak to you,Nor you to speak to me.Once we were playmates,But now we can’t agree—O (Evie Allen), get away from me.

I know a girl, sly and deceitful,

Every little tittle tat she goes and tells her people.

Long nose, ugly face, ought to be put under a glass case,

If you want to know her name,

Her name is (Evie Allen).

O (Evie Allen), get away from me,

I don’t want to speak to you,

Nor you to speak to me.

Once we were playmates,

But now we can’t agree—

O (Evie Allen), get away from me.

or (ring game)

Choose the one you love the best,Choose the merriest of the lot.Now you’re married I wish you joy—First a girl and then a boy.Seven years old and ...Play and cuddle and kiss together—Kiss her once, kiss her twice,Kiss her three times over.

Choose the one you love the best,

Choose the merriest of the lot.

Now you’re married I wish you joy—

First a girl and then a boy.

Seven years old and ...

Play and cuddle and kiss together—

Kiss her once, kiss her twice,

Kiss her three times over.

There stands a lady on a mountain,Who she is I do not know,All she wants is gold and silver,All she wants is a nice young man.Madam will you walk it, Madam will you talk it,Madam will you marry me? No!Not if I buy you a silver spoonTo feed your baby every afternoon?Madam will you walk it etc. No!Not if I buy you a nice silk hatWith seven yards of ribbon hanging down the back?Madam will you walk it etc. No!Not if I buy you the keys of HeavenTo let yourself in at half-past seven?Madam will you walk it etc. Yes!Go to church, love (repeat)Go to church, love,—Farewell.Put your ring on (repeat)Put your ring on,—Farewell.What for breakfast, love (repeat)What for breakfast, love,—Farewell.Boiled eggs and bread and butter (repeat twice)On the mountain,—Farewell.What’s for dinner, love (repeat)What’s for dinner love,—Farewell.Roast beef and plum pudding (repeat twice)On the mountain,—Farewell.What’s for tea, love (repeat)What’s for tea, love,—Farewell.Bread and butter, water-cress (repeat twice)On the mountain,—Farewell.What for supper, love (repeat)What for supper, love,—Farewell.Squashed flies and blackbeetles,Squashed flies and blackbeetles,Squashed flies and blackbeetles,On the mountain,—Farewell.

There stands a lady on a mountain,

Who she is I do not know,

All she wants is gold and silver,

All she wants is a nice young man.

Madam will you walk it, Madam will you talk it,

Madam will you marry me? No!

Not if I buy you a silver spoon

To feed your baby every afternoon?

Madam will you walk it etc. No!

Not if I buy you a nice silk hat

With seven yards of ribbon hanging down the back?

Madam will you walk it etc. No!

Not if I buy you the keys of Heaven

To let yourself in at half-past seven?

Madam will you walk it etc. Yes!

Go to church, love (repeat)

Go to church, love,—Farewell.

Put your ring on (repeat)

Put your ring on,—Farewell.

What for breakfast, love (repeat)

What for breakfast, love,—Farewell.

Boiled eggs and bread and butter (repeat twice)

On the mountain,—Farewell.

What’s for dinner, love (repeat)

What’s for dinner love,—Farewell.

Roast beef and plum pudding (repeat twice)

On the mountain,—Farewell.

What’s for tea, love (repeat)

What’s for tea, love,—Farewell.

Bread and butter, water-cress (repeat twice)

On the mountain,—Farewell.

What for supper, love (repeat)

What for supper, love,—Farewell.

Squashed flies and blackbeetles,

On the mountain,—Farewell.

Now I’m off to the butcher’s shop,There I stay no longer.If I do, mother will say,Naughty girl to disobey,And play with the boys down yonder.Come in my (Ellen) dear,While I go out.

Now I’m off to the butcher’s shop,

There I stay no longer.

If I do, mother will say,

Naughty girl to disobey,

And play with the boys down yonder.

Come in my (Ellen) dear,

While I go out.

And if you like these chants, here are the beginnings of a few more:—

Oxford boys are very nice boys,Cambridge boys are better—

Oxford boys are very nice boys,

Cambridge boys are better—

and

Handy-Pandy, sugar-de-candy,French almond rock—

Handy-Pandy, sugar-de-candy,

French almond rock—

and

Hoky Poky, penny a lump,The more you eat, the more you jump—

Hoky Poky, penny a lump,

The more you eat, the more you jump—

and

There was an old lady of Botany Bay:What have you got to sell today—

There was an old lady of Botany Bay:

What have you got to sell today—

and (an old one)

All in together—all sorts of (orfrosty) weather—When the wind blows we all go together—

All in together—all sorts of (orfrosty) weather—

When the wind blows we all go together—

and (a very old one)

Here we come gathering nuts in May (they now call it:andMay)On a cold and frosty morning—

Here we come gathering nuts in May (they now call it:andMay)

On a cold and frosty morning—

and (quite a new one)

Soldier, Soldier, you may beJust come home from Germany—

Soldier, Soldier, you may be

Just come home from Germany—

and

A house to let, enquire within,And please to call my Nellie in—

A house to let, enquire within,

And please to call my Nellie in—

and

Hot boiled beans and melted butter:Ladies and gentlemen, come to supper—

Hot boiled beans and melted butter:

Ladies and gentlemen, come to supper—

and

Gladys, Gladys, come out tonight,The moon is shining bright—

Gladys, Gladys, come out tonight,

The moon is shining bright—

and

O tonight is Saturday night,Tomorrow will be Sunday—

O tonight is Saturday night,

Tomorrow will be Sunday—

and (a very old one)

Sally, Sally Water—sprinkle in the pan:Fie, Sally—cry, Sally—for a young man—

Sally, Sally Water—sprinkle in the pan:

Fie, Sally—cry, Sally—for a young man—

and that’s really interesting, because the children don’t understand the meaning of this song any more, and so they have invented a new one to take its place, like this:

Little Sally Sanders, sitting on the sand,Weeping and crying for a young man,Rise Sally, rise so sweet—

Little Sally Sanders, sitting on the sand,

Weeping and crying for a young man,

Rise Sally, rise so sweet—

I forget the rest; but you can see how they have twisted it about to make sense—

and

You naughty flea,You bit my knee—

You naughty flea,

You bit my knee—

and

Come in my garden,And give me your hand—

Come in my garden,

And give me your hand—

and

Slow skip, what you like,A dolly or a pepper—

Slow skip, what you like,

A dolly or a pepper—

and (a very naughty one)

Mabel, Mabel,Lay the table—

Mabel, Mabel,

Lay the table—

and

Mother made a seedy cake,Gave us all the belly ache—

Mother made a seedy cake,

Gave us all the belly ache—

and

I know a doctor, he knows me,What do you think he brought for tea—

I know a doctor, he knows me,

What do you think he brought for tea—

and

Red, white and blue:I don’t speak to you—

Red, white and blue:

I don’t speak to you—

and

O dear me, mother caught a flea,Put it in the tea-pot and made a cup of tea—

O dear me, mother caught a flea,

Put it in the tea-pot and made a cup of tea—

and

This house to let, no rent to pay,Knock at the door and run away—

This house to let, no rent to pay,

Knock at the door and run away—

and

Dolly dear, Dolly dear,Your sweetheart is dead—

Dolly dear, Dolly dear,

Your sweetheart is dead—

and

Evie, Ivy, over,The kettle is boiling over—

Evie, Ivy, over,

The kettle is boiling over—

and

Up in the North, a long way off,The donkey’s got the whooping-cough—

Up in the North, a long way off,

The donkey’s got the whooping-cough—

and

Turn your back, you saucy cat,And say no more to me—

Turn your back, you saucy cat,

And say no more to me—

and

Send a letter, send a letter,Be content in the weather—

Send a letter, send a letter,

Be content in the weather—

and

Crossing the waters one by one,Crossing the waters two by two—

Crossing the waters one by one,

Crossing the waters two by two—

and

Four little chickens all in white,Saw some bread and began a fight—

Four little chickens all in white,

Saw some bread and began a fight—

and (skipping and shuttlecock)

Old mother Mason—broke a basin:What did it cost her? One penny, tuppence, etc.

Old mother Mason—broke a basin:

What did it cost her? One penny, tuppence, etc.

and

Stockings red and garters blue,Shoes laced up with silver—

Stockings red and garters blue,

Shoes laced up with silver—

and

Penny on the water, tuppence on the sea,Threepence on the railway—out goes she—

Penny on the water, tuppence on the sea,

Threepence on the railway—out goes she—

and

Down by the river where the green grass grows,There little Sally was washing her clothes—

Down by the river where the green grass grows,

There little Sally was washing her clothes—

and

Here comes a little bird through the window,Here comes a little bird through the door—

Here comes a little bird through the window,

Here comes a little bird through the door—

and

Willie, Willie, I am waiting, I can’t wait no longer for you,Three times the whistle blows, are you coming yes or no?—

Willie, Willie, I am waiting, I can’t wait no longer for you,

Three times the whistle blows, are you coming yes or no?—

and (skipping)

Little Mary Anne who lives up stairs,With high legged boots and a feather in her hat—That’s the way she meets her chap—

Little Mary Anne who lives up stairs,

With high legged boots and a feather in her hat—

That’s the way she meets her chap—

and

Take a little bird and hop in the corner,Take a little bird and hop away—

Take a little bird and hop in the corner,

Take a little bird and hop away—

and

Ma she said that this won’t do,To play with the boys at half-past two—

Ma she said that this won’t do,

To play with the boys at half-past two—

and

On the carpet she shall kneel,Stand up-right upon your heel—

On the carpet she shall kneel,

Stand up-right upon your heel—

and

Ching Chang Chinaman had a penny doll—Washed it, scrubbed it, called it pretty poll.

Ching Chang Chinaman had a penny doll—

Washed it, scrubbed it, called it pretty poll.

If you really like these songs, I can tell you the names of one or two more, such asI CAN DO THE TANGOandI’LL TELL MOTHER, MARY ANNE, andMOTHER, MOTHER, FETCH ME HOMEandFATHER GIVE(that meansgave)ME A HA’PENNYandPOLLY PUT THE KETTLE ONandJUMBO HAD A BABYandLEAVE THE ROPEandCOME ON, AMYandSOME ONE’S UNDER THE BEDandPLEASE WILL YOU LEND THE KEYandCINDARELLA-UMBERELLAandTHE HOUSE IS EMPTY AND NOBODY INandHABERDASHER ISHER ASHER OM POM TOSHandR. WHITE’S GINGER-BEER GOES OFF POPandMADEMOISELLE WENT TO THE WELL(which is interestingbecause they have forgotten what “mademoiselle” means and now call itADAM AND ELL) andMY SON JOHN WENT TO BED WITH HIS STOCKINGS ONandMY MOTHER SAID THAT I WAS BORNandPOOR JENNIE IS A-WEEPINGandLONDON BRIDGE IS BROKEN DOWN(two well-known old ones) andWILLIE HAD A LETTER FOR TO GO ON BOARD A SHIPandOATS AND BEANS AND BARLEY GROWandNOW WE’RE ON THE BATTLEFIELDandMY FATHER HAD AN OLD SHOEandI WENT DOWN PICCADILLY.

You can get as many of these songs out of the girls as you like, if you care to come round and ask for them; you’ll find the girls far less shy about their games than the boys are. And you’ll also notice that they’re just as good at inventing sports—the boys show up best in the duty-games, and the girls in their songs. Butthere’s this difference. You’ll not find much talk in these songs about sunshine and flowers and things like that—except in the older ones which I think were used by girls and boys together, and perhaps even by grown-ups. The girls don’t discover poetic things like “Swimming in Blue Water” or “Dead Man’s Dark Scenery”; they’re matter-of-fact; they sing about clothes and food and money. That’s what makes Aunt Eliza say that women have more common sense than men....

FOOTNOTES:[G]Not all of them are sung to games.[H]There is an improper version of this, and of several others.[I]“has I was goning to strrber far sing butter u cup and dassies I bet a mide take a there forder In the ises were belw but I gend a hir she gose on to strrber far rif rif tola len lile rif rif tale led lile.”[J]Sadlers’ Wells.

[G]Not all of them are sung to games.

[H]There is an improper version of this, and of several others.

[I]“has I was goning to strrber far sing butter u cup and dassies I bet a mide take a there forder In the ises were belw but I gend a hir she gose on to strrber far rif rif tola len lile rif rif tale led lile.”

[J]Sadlers’ Wells.

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